Samples of epibenthic macrofauna were collected using a small sledge trawl from 40 stations on the Chatham Rise (42°34′‐44°47'S; 175°34'E‐179°03'W) at water depths of 237–2039 m. 218 taxa were collected, predominantly echinoderms, crustaceans, and molluscs. Multivariate analysis based on 85 species indicated three epibenthic communities, the shallowest characterised mainly by crustaceans and two deeper water communities mainly characterised by echinoderms: (1) a community on predominantly sandy sediments on the crest and shallower flanks of the Rise at 237–602 m that included as characteristic speciesMunida gracilis, Phylladiorhynchus pusillus, Campylonotus rathbunae, Pontophilus acutirostris, andAcutiserolis bromleyana(Crustacea),Amphiura lanceolata(Ophiuroidea),Cuspidaria fairchildi, andEuciroa galatheae(Bivalvia); (2) a community associated with muddy sediments at 462–1693 m that includedYpsilothuria bitentaculataandPentadactyla longidentis(Holothuroidea),Brissopsis oldhami(Echinoidea), andAmphiophiura ornata(Ophiuroidea); and (3) a community on muddy sediments at 799–2039 m that includedOphiomusium lymani(Ophiuroidea),Porcellanaster ceruleus(Asteroidea),Gracilechinus multidentatus(Echinoidea), andAeneator recens(Gastropoda). Bathymetric range of the communities was not symmetrical on either side of the Rise; there was a marked submergence on the north side similar to the vertical displacement of the core of the Antarctic Intermediate Water.